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Between 1911, when the Commonwealth had taken over the Northern Territory, and 1934 the numbers of children
resulting from mixed unions had increased from 58 to 770. While such children had been ignored and left with
their ‘full blood’ Aboriginal mothers in the early days of Territory settlement, the Commonwealth authorities had
initiated a policy of separating the children from their mothers, often by force, and placing them in government
homes. It was hoped that, given the benefit of white education and trained as domestic servants and stockmen, the
part Aborigines could be assimilated into white Australian society. The policy cannot be said to have been a great
success. Despite all the efforts of the government administration to control the movements of ‘half castes’, some
became subject to the worst vices in white society. In the 1930s, the situation deteriorated with the massive influx
of single servicemen to the Territory. It was common knowledge in Darwin that part Aboriginal girls, although
wards of the state and under its protection, were being used for prostitution. The churches continued to press for
the establishment of isolated mission run homes for the part Aboriginal children, homes where they could be
equipped for a place in Australian life consistent with human self respect, dignity, independence and freedom.
In 1940 the Commonwealth government asked three church organisations in Arnhem Land, the Anglican Church
Missionary Society, the Roman Catholic Church and the Methodist Overseas Mission to assume care for children
of part Aboriginal descent. The government granted the lease of Croker Island to the Methodists and agreed to pay
maintenance of one Shilling per child per day.
Conditions on Croker Island when Somerville arrived with the Goulburn Island contingent were somewhat
primitive. Due to the imminence of the Wet Season, the group had been moved before the building program started
by Harold Shepherdson, Len Kentish and Phil Adams could be completed. However, despite crowded living
quarters, other arrivals having boosted the number of children to 96 aged between one and 18 years, and the rains
that started within days of their arrival, the missionaries had great hopes that, given time, they could create a
peaceful haven for their charges.
Time was something they did not have. The children had scarcely moved into their half completed settlement
when news came of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. On 16 December 1941, the civilian evacuation of
Darwin was ordered, and on 13 February 1942 a radio message was sent out along the coast ordering all women
and children to prepare to leave the north at once. Within 24 hours, the staff at Croker Island had completed
preparations to evacuate the island, but the expected naval pick up vessel never arrived. Darwin was bombed on
19 February, but all naval shipping was needed as carriers for troops to defend northern Australia. On Croker,
the staff unpacked and attempted to maintain a normal routine. When, at last, an official message was received
from Darwin, it was to the effect that while the wives and children of missionaries would be evacuated, the
children would have to wait until later.
Most of the white women and children were evacuated from Croker Island on Larrpan in March 1942. Somerville,
Jess March and Sister Olive Peake, a nurse, elected to stay with the children until the lugger returned for the second
stage of the evacuation. Beryl Adams, who was eight months pregnant, also stayed. Her baby, Rosemary Olive,
was born on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, Larrpan returned carrying Shepherdson, Kentish and Jim Harris, an
Anglican missionary from Oenpelli who had volunteered his services to assist with the evacuation of the children.
On the Tuesday after Easter, the Croker Island convoy set out on the first stage of its journey to Sydney, where
arrangements had been made to house the children for the duration of the war. Somerville’s practical skills proved
an invaluable asset on the journey. She was put in charge of catering for the group, and before leaving Croker
organised the baking of 100 big buns, 300 biscuits, five fruit cakes and 75 loaves of bread to carry them through
the first stage of the journey. Preparing meals for 100 people, often under appalling conditions, was a mammoth
task. The hardship and suffering and the joys and sense of community spirit developed during the epic journey are
vividly portrayed in Somerville’s journal, published in 1951 as They Crossed a Continent.
The group of missionaries and 99 children (other children joined in Alice Springs) reached Sydney six weeks
and two days after leaving Croker Island. The travellers had crossed jungle and desert, endured heat and cold and
suffered discomfort and sickness but, apart from a child who died of a fall near Oenpelli, all survived. Most of the
children were housed together at the Crusaders’ Camp at Otford, about 50 kilometres from Sydney. Other children
were sent to colleges and a training farm in Victoria.
In 1946, Somerville returned to Croker Island. She was the only one of the original group of missionaries to
do so. Eight cottages, each with house parents and housing eight to 10 children, were established. Somerville was
the first ‘cottage mother’ appointed on the island, and for 20 years cared for members of her extended family
at Somerset Cottage. An artistic and talented woman, she taught her charges a variety of handicrafts as well as
practical subjects. In 1966, with the abandonment of the policy of social isolation for part Aboriginal children,
six cottages providing a more broadly based community service were opened in Darwin and the Croker Island
Mission was closed.
Somerville retired from missionary service and returned to Sydney to take care of her parents. In 1966, she was
made Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to isolated children. Much of her retirement
was spent in assisting the fund raising for overseas missions through the production and sale of handicrafts.
Somerville visited the Northern Territory regularly and took a keen interest in the development of Somerville
Community Services which, named in her honour, provided a wide range of services to the community.
M McKenzie, Mission to Arnhem Land, 1976; M Somerville, They Crossed a Continent, 1951; personal details from M Somerville, Sydney,
1992.
EVE GIBSON, Vol 2.SOWDEN, (Sir) WILLIAM JOHN (1858–1943), journalist and newspaper proprietor, was born in Castlemaine,
Victoria, on 26 April 1858, son of Thomas Sowden, a mine manager. His family were of the Anglican faith. Due